1 Therefore, Abram ascended from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, toward the southern region. 2 But he was very wealthy by the possession of gold and silver. 3 And he returned by the way that he came, from the meridian into Bethel, all the way to the place where before he had pitched his tent, between Bethel and Hai. 4 There, at the place of the altar he had made before, he again called upon the name of the Lord. 5 But Lot also, who was with Abram, had flocks of sheep, and cattle, and tents. 6 Neither was the land able to contain them, so that they might dwell together. Indeed, their substance was so great that they could not live in common. 7 And then there also arose a conflict between the shepherds of Abram and of Lot. Now at that time the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in that land. 8 Therefore, Abram said to Lot: “I ask you, let there be no quarrel between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds. For we are brothers. 9 Behold, the entire land is before your eyes. Withdraw from me, I beg you. If you will go to the left, I will take the right. If you choose the right, I will pass to the left.” 10 And so Lot, lifting up his eyes, saw all the region around the Jordan, which was thoroughly irrigated, before the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It was like the Paradise of the Lord, and it was like Egypt, approaching toward Zoar. 11 And Lot chose for himself the region around the Jordan, and he withdrew by way of the east. And they were divided, one brother from the other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan. In truth, Lot stayed in the towns that were around the Jordan, and he lived in Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were very wicked, and they were sinners before the Lord beyond measure. 14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot was divided from him: “Lift up your eyes, and gaze out from the place where you are now, to the north and to the meridian, to the east and to the west. 15 All the land that you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring even forever. 16 And I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If any man is able to number the dust of the earth, he will be able to number your offspring as well. 17 Arise and walk through the land in its length, and breadth. For I will give it to you.” 18 Therefore, moving his tent, Abram went and dwelt by the steep valley of Mamre, which is in Hebron. And he built an altar there to the Lord.
Genesis · Catholic Public Domain Version
Genesis 13 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abraham
Called by God, he left home in faith to become the father of a chosen people.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 12–25
Lot
Abraham's nephew who chose the plain of Jordan and settled near Sodom.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 11–14; 19
Places
Hebron
One of the region's oldest cities, holding the patriarchs' burial cave (Machpelah). It was David's first royal capital, over Judah.
Cited in the guide: Genesis 23:19; Genesis 13:18; 2 Samuel 5:3
Cross references (18)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Joshua 10:40; Genesis 12:9–20; 2 Samuel 24:7; Genesis 21:33; Genesis 20:1
- 2 Genesis 24:35; Psalm 112:1–3; Genesis 26:12–13; Proverbs 10:22; Job 22:21–25
- 3 Genesis 12:6; Genesis 12:8–9
- 4 Jeremiah 29:12; Ephesians 6:18–19; Isaiah 58:9; Genesis 12:7–8; Psalm 116:2
- 5 Genesis 4:20; Jeremiah 49:29; Genesis 25:27
- 6 Genesis 36:6–7; Luke 12:17–18; Ecclesiastes 5:10–11; 1 Timothy 6:9
- 7 Genesis 26:20; Genesis 12:6; James 3:16; James 4:1; Genesis 34:30
- 8 1 Corinthians 6:6–7; Acts 7:26; Psalm 133:1; Genesis 11:27–31; Proverbs 20:3
- 9 Genesis 20:15; 1 Peter 3:8–12; Genesis 34:10; Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:18
- 10 Deuteronomy 34:3; Isaiah 51:3; Genesis 14:8; Genesis 2:8–10; Joel 2:3
- 11 Genesis 13:9; Hebrews 10:25; Proverbs 27:10; 1 Peter 2:17; Psalm 119:63
- 12 Genesis 19:29; Genesis 19:1; Genesis 14:12; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Genesis 19:25
- 13 2 Peter 2:10; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6–8; Romans 1:27; Isaiah 3:8–9
- 14 Deuteronomy 3:27; Genesis 28:14; Isaiah 49:18; Isaiah 60:4; Genesis 13:10
- 15 2 Chronicles 20:7; Genesis 12:7; Genesis 15:18; Genesis 35:12; Acts 7:5
- 16 Genesis 28:14; Numbers 23:10; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12; Exodus 32:13
- 17 Genesis 13:15; Numbers 13:17–24
- 18 Genesis 14:13; Genesis 18:1; Genesis 35:27; Genesis 8:20; Genesis 12:7–8
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, [so that] if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." And again [the Scripture] saith, "God brought forth Abram, and spake unto him, Look up now to heaven, and count the stars if thou be able to number them; …
For all the earth which thou seest, I will give to thee and to thy seed, even for ever." And again He says, "Arise, and go through the length and breadth of the land, since I will give it unto thee;" and [yet] he did not receive an inheritance in it, not even a footstep, but was always a stranger …
Arise, and walk through the land, in the length of it, and in the breadth of it; for unto thee will I give it." It does not clearly appear whether in this promise that also is contained by which he is made the father of all nations.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Read the Scriptures, and thou shall find Abraham to have been a rich man. In order that thou mayest know, that not riches are blamed; Abraham had much gold, silver, cattle, household, was a rich man, and unto his bosom Lazarus, a poor man, was borne up.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
It is certain that the poor man was carried into the bosom of Abraham: of Abraham himself Scripture saith that he had here very much gold and silver, and was rich on the earth. If every one that is rich is hurried away to be tormented, how could Abraham have gone before that poor man, so as to be ready …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)